InsaneJournal

New Years one-shot

Nathan couldn't believe he was going to celebrate New Years Eve standing on a street corner freezing to death waiting on a big ball to drop, but Claire had brought it up more than once, so he'd finally caved on his previous position of how stupid this was and suggested they go - after everyone changed into something warmer. Peter had tried to give him crap for making sure they were all bundled up, but if they had to go, they'd at least be properly dressed for the occasion. Of course Pete also had to make things even more difficult by skipping the top button on his jacket, leaving all the others crooked. He hadn't realized this until after he'd gotten all the way down to the bottom. Nathan didn't give him time to redo it.

If you want something done right, you had to do it yourself: a good motto to live by. At least his kid brother knew how to tie his shoes ...

Once he'd finished, he shook his head and gave Peter's shoulder a reassuring pat. "Someday you'll get it right, Pete." Then he cut his eyes over to Claire to make sure she hadn't run into any problems. Fortunately, she seemed to have done okay on her own. One less person to take care of, although technically she should need the most looking after, what with her being the youngest and all. Well, the youngest person still around to spend any time with him these days.

Yeah, Nathan was still bitter about the divorce and the fact that his soon-to-be ex-wife hadn't let him see the boys for Christmas. He thought Heidi would've at least let them call him or vice versa, but he hadn't heard a thing from either of them, and when he'd tried calling them, she'd asked him not to 'confuse them more.' Apparently she wanted him to forget he had two small sons living off someplace else, and he was supposed to be fine with that. This was the sort of thing that happened when you married a strong, independent woman.

He'd considered briefly what it would've been like if he'd stayed with Meredith: how different his life could've been. Though try as he might, he just couldn't picture himself working some nine-to-five job, then coming home to a trailer park at the end of the day.

Nathan wasn't trying to be judgmental. For some people that kind of lifestyle worked, but it never would've satisfied him. It never would've satisfied his parents either, and deep down he didn't believe that he would've been setting a good example for Peter by choosing the simple life when he could be doing something greater. And it wasn't as if he hadn't loved Heidi, although right now it was her negative qualities he remembered most vividly. At least with Meredith it would've been an adventure, and they would've been able to raise their daughter together ... maybe.

Circumstances had separated them then, and things probably hadn't changed. There was really no reason to look back and wonder 'what if.' He was grateful for his boys. If nothing else had come out of his previous marriage, there was still that. As for Claire, she'd obviously been raised by a good family. If he and Meredith had been her parents ( in every sense of the word ) instead, she might not've been so lucky. They both usually meant well, but good intentions didn't always yield the best results, especially when you were from two different worlds.

One thing was for sure: life certainly had a way of giving you something precious, then taking it back.

However, tonight he was standing beside his daughter: the one he'd thought had been lost to him forever. He had to keep glancing over at her to make sure she was still there, as if she was an illusion or something, and she'd disappear if he took his eyes off her long enough. Each time though Claire was right where she'd been standing all along, rambling away about something or other she found 'cool' about all this - other than the temperature. Naturally, Peter encouraged her.

Nathan threw in a word every now and then, but for the most part, he let the other two do all the talking. They were both much better at striking up meaningless conversation than he was. When Brooke joined them, he did his best not to look displeased, though some would say he always looked that way.

Any tension that had formed between them in the not-so-distant past had disappeared, largely because of Claire. She had encouraged both her biological father and her best friend to bury the hatchet. Not long after that, they'd stopped challenging one another. Brooke had taken the first step by bringing him her copy of Claire's paternity test results, showing them to him so he knew that it was the original sheet she'd received from the doctor, and tearing it up. He'd relaxed considerably after that, especially once he'd caught on to Peter's growing affection for the brunette. It was cute how quickly his brother ( who barely knew Brooke, by the way ) rushed to her defense. Admirable too. He should speak up like that for himself sometime - put that mouth to good use.

So Brooke had used him to her advantage, had she? Lied for her own personal gain ... Smart move. Maybe they'd gotten off on the wrong foot because strangely, they thought a lot alike sometimes.

And now the moment they'd all been waiting for! Finally. He was starting to lose the feeling in his fingers, but how could he not at least pretend to be excited when Claire was clinging to his arm and staring up at him with a huge smile on her face? ... Alright, so deep down he was a softie.

A curious brow raised when Brooke kissed Peter, and even though Claire had flung her arms around him ( with him returning the embrace ), he made sure to get a glimpse of Pete's reaction. It was priceless. His brother was the most socially impaired individual on the planet.

He held on to Claire a few seconds longer than he ordinarily would've before releasing her and letting her bound over to her friend to cling all over her. That meant it was time for one of those brotherly hugs that Peter always pouted about not getting enough of - as if he did something to merit one very often. Still, Nathan couldn't help getting in a small jab first. "Wow, Pete. Maybe we should have that talk. I didn't think you'd need it for at least ten more years, but it looks like you're a little ahead of schedule." Once he received the confused look from Peter he'd been expecting, he elaborated. "There comes a point in every man's life where he goes from being a boy, to becoming a man ..."

There we go. It was as if someone had flipped a switch inside the other's head, and once the meaning behind what he'd said registered, the more sensitive Petrelli shot Nathan a terribly offended glare. That was his cue to gloss over the too-perfect-to-pass-up opportunity to make a wisecrack and give Pete the affection he rightly deserved, not to mention craved. He was by far needier than any woman or child Nathan had ever known, but he didn't say that aloud. Peter was already sulking.

Nathan had been slightly disappointed when Niki had told him she'd been called away for 'business' reasons. After their little rendezvous at his place, he'd been hoping she'd stick around, but this was admittedly better than anything else he could've come up with. Guess there really was something to being surrounded by the people you love for the holidays.

Sentimentality. It would be the death of him someday. But for right now it suited him well, and after apologizing to his brother for his previous remark, everyone was happy.